Sausage-linking mechanism



May 27, 1930. w. ,1. o. JOHNSON SAUSAGE LINKING IEQHANISM Filed April 26. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7 5.461 Q A TTORNEY May 27, 1930. w. .1. o. JOHNSON SAUSAGE LINKING lEcHANIsM Filed April 26. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R E R V w y 5 m v V. B h-N m N \Q 7 X l N \l l I 5 \bn M w \M NR l V II I i E bu v m bmN u N% mm NM .m mm a hm QM hm h km May 27, 1930. ,w. J. o. JOHNSON SAUSAGE LINKING MECHANISM Filed April'26, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

BY M

ATTORNEY ay 1'930- r 5 w. J. o. JOHNSON 1,759,851-

SAUSAGE LINKING MECHANISM Filed April-26, 1928 s Sheetse-S heet 4 INVENTOR.

-Z- j ATTORNEY May 27, 1930. w. J. o. JOHNSON SAUSAGE LINKII I G IECHANISM Filed April 26, 1928 5 Sheets-Shqei 5 'nvmvrox A TTORNEY Patented May 27, 1930 PATENToFFlcE {f 'WALTEIt J. o. zrormson, or oIrIoAGo', ILLINOIS,- ASSIGNOR TO THE ALLBRIGH'r-nrJLL comrnivxoricmcneo, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION-05E rumors f isnusaen-mnkmcIMEcHANIsrir Application ma April 26,

' The present invention'relates to automatic sausage llnking mQhtH1SIIlS"aDCl more partlcularly the invention relates to attachments for sausage'stufiers-a'daptedt'o link sausage 7 ently of Variations in the casing 7 into which meat is stufledgin substantially uniform lengths ind'epen'd-- diameters Various fo'rm'sfof sausage linkershavebeen heretofore proposed for making substantially uniform length sausageffione ofwhieh have met substantial commercial success because of the severe'conditions of operationsto which such mechanisms are subjected in practice, and'because of the fact that such prior mech-. anisms have been lacking' -in' the durability,

. simplicity and reliabi'lityie'ssential to success.

Accordingly primary' object of the inventionis the provision o'f a simplified durable linking mechanismad'apted for use as an atitachment to the usual types-of sausage stuffers, and toautomaticallyftwist the unfilled end ofa sausage casing" at int'ervals to produce links of substantially uniform length sausages independently? of the, diameter 7 of the casing being filled.

Another ob'ect of i he invention is the provision of a mechanism for linkingsausages automatically adaptedftobe' detachably sup- 1 ported on the outlet pi e of a sausage stufier to permit sausage meat. to be fed preferably uninterruptedly into intestines or sausage casings Which are automatically twisted at predetermined intervals to form links of sausages. It is another object of myinvention -to pro- *vide a sausage linkingmechani'smautomatically controlled sensitive solely mechanical means of durable construction and long.

f It isa further objectiof-the present inven,

.tion to provide a sausage linking mechanism.

' automaticallycontrolledbythemiovement of "the filled casingf through 'novel 'Inechanical meansp turth'er object of theinvention isthe provisionof a sausage linking-mechanism adapt ed to be pneumaticallycontrolled.

. lItis anotherobj'ectof'my invention to pro- 'vide a novel single irevolutionf clutch mechanism usefulin automaticlinkers and-in any 1923. Serial No. 272, 64;

other mechanism Where a light trip release and stopping action of a: comparatively heavy clutch mechanism is desired,

Still another object of my invention is to provide filling nozzles for. sausage linking V mechanisms arranged to permit thefreeand ready flovv of meat into casings.

A further object of the present invention is toprovide a sausage linking mechanismwhich is compact, comparatively simple inconstruction, durable, ndfeflicient in o eration.

Further important object's'of my invention will become apparentjfrom the detailedfdisclosuresin the following specification and by reference to the accompanying draw ngsin invvhich the twisting operations are pneu- V matically controlled. Y V

Figure .Zis' a perspective vie'wof one form ofmy impro'ved'sausage linker in which the twisting mechanism is mechanically, controlled byimov'ement of thefilled' sausage casings; 1

' Figure 31s a perspective view of theconi structlon shovvn 1n Figure 2 as seenfrom the opposite side thereof.

Figure Li's a perspective'vie, f ofthe-con i structlon 'ShOWlllIl Figure 2 looking 1n the direction of thelinking end thereof;

' Figure Bis a perspective view ofthe Ina-- I chine with partsremoved to more'clearly W show the driving mechanisms. 1

Figure 61s a perspectlve view of the sau- 'invention"'uti lizing an automatically consage meat valvebody ofa modification of the trolled feed valve to arrest the flovv ofineat during'twisting" operations; 7 5 Figure 7 is a perspective vievv of rotatable 'clutch-Ydisk member utilized win all forms of my invention. J

' Figure-9 is'a perspective view a rotatable combined clutch and'trip operatingmember.

fFigure 1 0 is'a'perspective vievvof a rocking I member adapte'd' fo'r cooperation Withthe" Figure 11' is a more or less diagrammatic illustration oflthe contour of camsishown in perspective View of'a coact- Figure 12is a operating thetrip controllingmechanism;

a Figure 1-17 is afacevijew of the cam shown v in Figureul5- e q; 1 F lgure 181s ZL Z-PBISPGCtLIVG vlew of a uniure i i --Vtary feeding and linking control member used only in the form of' inyention shown in- Fig- Figure 19'is apers ective iew of an automatically operated eedj'control valve used Referring to the; drawings {only inthe-form of intention shown in Figs uresdand 1 I vIligure 2Ois a pe'rspectiveview of a modified form of sausage casingguidingand clutch trip controlling mechanism; 3

v by reference characters, m wh ch l ke characters designate" like parts, 10" designates a rframe which as shownacomprisesian open end operating mechanism supporting section 11 and an ele V ated table-.section12, the-sections lljand 12 being supportedi'by suitable*legs 10. Suit v' ably'supportedfundertable section 12 is an electric'motor 13 provided with an attaching :3 7 power plug 13and a driving shaft 14 "(Figsure} 1) on the end of which is supported a 'g and drives a gearlli. Gear 16 is cncentric a ,with and; imparts rotation to a friction drum I Carrieiandflriyen by the shaft on which *gear 16,-ismounted-isa pinion18 (Figure pinion-liidriven thereby which meshes with which meshes with-gear19 injturnmeshing ,withjgear 21 (Figures 1 and 2) which isfixedply secured to disk22 (Figures 1,2 andg7 by.

' studs '23 thereby impartingrOtatiOn to disk Disk 22andmember 28 a is i22upon'rotationtof gearj2l, [Disk 22 is proiiiw t 'ti ul ixt ns (F re iwhich forms a bearing for the ,diskandtele. t {scopes intofl ub portion25 (Figure of the V cam -member 26 Itiwill thus be seen that I ;when--motorl 3;is driVen'Fthe-disk 22'through thefdes'crihed tr ainof gearsiscontinuously srotated i r A frame member 27 (Figure 8-) is {con- 'nected to frame." adj acent' disk '22 r. and a 11,frictionirollerlcontact member 28 securedato frame member 27 L s am ng;

"ures1' andw2', are in relatively; close spaced "relation andhave their opposing faces flared outwardly thusjdefining top endrollerpen- 1 spring is held between each ear 29 and frame is 1 '7 member 27 by bolt 31"tOByieldablysuppOrt Cam member 26 is r ota'tably mounted on the shaft carrying gear21 with extension 24 disposed, outwardly of member v28. A fric ,is'yieldably Y A oftofrainejlO as at 57fand58 .is a bari59 1 supporting from'oneend thereof a'yokemem- 1 ber 611whichfrotatably-supportsaapair of j.

gaging surfaces. Member28 is provided a plurality of ears 29 throughjeachofwhich"i is extended a securing bolt 31'into anadja a 1 cent corner of frame 27 and ,a U-shaped leaf" vmember28 from frame2'Z Theshaft which; 1 carries. gear 21 passes through extension. 24

of disk 22 and the opening in member 28, and; i v

has a'bearing inextension 32 0f frame 10.

telescoped in 'hub25 thereof. Cam-member 26 comprises a cylindrical member 33 withinf which hub extends and revolvesf Mem-e ber ,v-J33j has rigidly secured thereto a frame 34 which comprises substantially right angu 'larly related arms35 and 36 connected by bracing bar 37. Rotatably secured on the t' outer end of arm35 is a roller- 35 of truncated v conical form and pivotally secured to'arm 36,

as at 38 is a triggers-39 which 'normallyen- F i gages a stop 41 carried by'arm 36;Supportedon theouterend of hub 25 isa pair of frame actuatingcams 43 and44 of the form' and relation illustratedin Figure 1 1. Cam mem ber26- whenassembled has arms: 35 and 36 thereof disposed between disk 22 and meme ber 28 with hub 25 'proj ecting. throughfthe open center of member 28 and cams 43 and 44 tion disk, 45 (Figure12) is slidingly securedto-hub 25 against rotation relative thereto and is held in frictiona'l engagementwith disk 22 by means of, the-pluralleaf spring member46 (Figure 13)"which is also secured tohub 25, the disk 45'-ands'pring memb'er 46 7' bearing 7' between ,memben 33 T and disk {22. 'Trigger 39 in neutral inoperative position of cam member 26' rests upon an inclinedj platform 47 (Figure 14) integral with fan;

is pivotally supported atone; end thereof.

arm '48 in which" position-roller 35f restsin" groove 28in member'28. out of engagement 7- f with constantly revolvingidisk 22. -Arm 48 V adj acent platform 47- on a lug :49 carried i frame 10. 7'

; The outer end ofar1n48 has Vpiyotallyfses" V 'cured thereto as at 51 a piston rod'52 whieh f carries a piston 53 mountfed slidably w1th1n anair cylinder 54 which-issecured to' anup standing lug*54"carried byframe-27; Coin-l nected to frame 10 ;is"onearm of; a U -shaped leaf-springfimhe' p o mf, which 5' a a l5eith pistonv53 ,and cylinderj54 andsprsmgp 55:function co erativ y the, a I I v f trigger 39 upon engage e t wit piggy: a

connected to arm 48jb'y} a connecting. element f0rm47. T a i I 1 Pivotally connected at opposite ends there;

spaced rollers 622LI1C1563 in alinement with earns 43 and144"respectively."':Bar 59 .carri es l at tlije opposite end thereofan arm 64 which Q flexibly m me-aces w theflower end of a i in ected to aframets (Figure a yiel'iable connection su orted onprojections 69 of fraine 10 by I nie'a-ns'of'a shaft 71 extending transversely of frame 68. .1totat'ablymourned on shaft 71 is a-pinion 7 2 constantly in mesh with a gear 73 concentric with and Connected to a drum ,1 74;, the gear 73 and drum74 being rotatab1y sup 'orte'd shaft 75 earned by frame 68.

Mountedon table 12 in ertical projections 78 under which are detachably supported outwar'dly projecting ings .79 of a valve body 8-1.whichicqniprises an elon gated chamber 82 havinga flanged end in'em her 83 for detachable "connection with a sausage Stu-flier: and prb ided' W-ith a rotatable Valve 84 in 'sai'd Chamber adjacent member 83, valve 84 being provided with a manual operating handle-85 and pit tally supported en chamber"seintermediate member 83, and

- valve 84 is a1ever'86 harih anarin 87adapted iii-Closed 'pbsitifon tofengage'the outer end ofval've 84' in operation position; Chamber 82 at the opposite end is provided with a flange 88 to which'is 'detaehably secured by 7 means of bolts 891a flange 91 provided with Detachably telescoped over the nipple is one an outwardly extending nipple (not shown).

end of a cylindrical m'eat discharge member 92 having fixed thereto a gear 93 constantly I in; mesh with. pinion 72.

Pirated to flange 91 as'at 94:: aourved lever 95 provided with an arrn96 havingplvotallysecured to the endlthereof a roller 97 a which normally rotatably bears againstaface [10 "ofrgea 93 ,temaintain ineinber 92 in position removal "of nieinber for elean'sin'g er'othe urposesr "tern'ally threaded c iqpling member s 99' for I drawing flared head 101; of nozzle 102rinto v. firm contact With the endef member 92. 1 The itiijdinally extending grooves 103 for facilitherewithasfw v A yiipig'tlijh;

" inating 101 bar 77 aw-e ma 81';;foj1}-;ho1ding"t I "againstlong'itfidinal displaee ent relative to "'Ihe'oute'rend of member is externally threaded as at '98 for engagement "by an 'inouterend fdf nozzle 102 is provided With lonhe valve body bars 7 the '77;

spaced rela- 1 tion theretoyis a pair of longitudinally extending transvers ly spaced bars 76 77 (Figuie 5) provided with; inwardly: facing setscrew is the shank ate the ends thereof is on the ni ple. "Bys" inginglever 95 out, award y arm 96 is swung/therewith and roller- 97 thrown 'frbminfront ofgear 93th11s per-- "1; the end of arm lease the clutch diameter it is obvious that trolled means such as dash V links of uniform lengthwithvariably diam i Q eter casings will not' be produced for the'rea-I j Felting-the telescoping-of the-sausage casin s e11 asassisting in the twistin 2 "Projections 78 a rresponning wifigj79 f 1 v Sedure-d ad-o posite sides of imam at the front end thereof is a pair of forwardly and outwardly projeotingbrackets 105'and 106 in I i i the outer ends of Whichthe opposite ends of a shaft 107 are rotatably mounted; One end of vided with a collar 108 detachably held in ing movement of shaft 107 in one direction;

- The opposite end of shaftllO'? has 'detachably secured thereto'by means of set screws 111 ft 107 outwardly-0f bracket 105 is proand 112 apertured blocks 113 and 114 respec- 171761? n pposite sides or bracket 106 w ich "limit movement of shaft 107 in both direcin block 113 by- 80,

tio'n's: Det'achably secured V v of a finger 11'6 'pro-' Vjidcdwith an outer curved en'd'117 Ahelitending" to revolve ealtensio'n spring 118 hasone-end there'Ofs'e 3 .cn re'd'to end 117 and the opposite endsecur'ed to frame "10, spring 118 "shait107 in a direction toward the operatin mechanism. A footer leg controlled lever con 119 is extended thronghthe aperture in bloIck n 112 with the lower end thereof in engagement With the floor "or other support-forliolding shaft 107 against rotation under-the-action of spring 118., W Fixed to shaft 107 by bolt 121 intermedifree or inner end cai'ries a pi'yot 1fne1nber123 to which pivoted as at 124 theapei of-a bellorank lever 125 comprising arms 126 and 127. The end "of arn1 126'during the nonnon-twisting intervals rests in front of trigger 39 which during th same in-" I;

linking or a bar 122 which atits tervals rests on platform 47, arin 126 in said 7 position resting under guide 128 held in position by a-plate 128s'e'cur'ed to frame 10. A U-shaped spring'131'ha's one leg thereof securedto arin 126 in a manner urging itfinto 5- position in fron t of trigger 39, the other leg into Which the sausage meat is-fed Vary.

pot 132 sausage son that though uniform quantities of meat,

1 27 is flexibly connectedto a of spring 131 being suitably secured to'frame- 11 5 -fully described. As the'intestine or casings 0 by a time con- 5 be fed into thecasing during equal intervals of time the len'gths of thelinks will Vary in accordance with the variation in diameter of:"-1 2.5'

the casings being filled -When,'hoWeVer,uni5

form diameter produc substantial uniform I f I casingsare utilized for f r example-as artificial casings this mechanism .8 '-will I T r and measuring means The-invention in its preferred embodiments comprehendsmeansfautomatically controlled {by the movement of .the sausage casings for producing sausage ,links of approximately uniformlength. independently of natural va Such means 134' over .whi'ch from the nozzle meat; upon being fed? into the Shaft' 135 is 'supported in a" a detachable cover plexcam 141 (Figure 17 mounted foren- 7 gagement with a roller 142 rrotatably supthe longer arm 143 of a ported on the'endlof bell crank lever 144piv0ted at 145 to housing 137,the shorter arm'146of-which hasffiexibly secured to the end thereof one end'of afrod 147'which extendstl rough atubularmemb'er V 11 i 148'detachablys'ecured within a tubular'extension 149 of frame 1'0 bly means of abolt'151. Extension 149 is disposed adj acent arm 127 I f of lever 125and the oppositeend of rod 147 is fflexiblyconnected to: the. end ofarm 127.

above described 1 thereof, by engagement therewith of the sau-' links of substantially I 'VVh-ileithe guiding and measuring wheel 133 forms through the rotation sage" casings sausage,

' uniform length, it has been found thatjthe sausage casings ,upon pjassing over vanes "1'36;

1 4 f a a r wheel 133 commensurate to positively rotate arenot of sufiicient weight with the forward *movement of the cas ngs and consequently iny -invent on comprel ends a modified form of guiding andmeasuringmeansofa more posi- Q 'tivecharacteni I The mod fied form of gu dlng f isillustrated in Figure 9 and'comprises atubular member 152 forde- V fupwardly extending relativelyv longbar: 156 y integrally connectedto the opposite ends 'of r ;;base ,l54."[ Theupperendof bar; 156 isproprovidedwith an ear158 'onefach end thereof.

i has rigidly secured to one of an tachable connection with extension 149 and end thereof a bra'ck et 153 which comprises ajbase154 anupwfardly'fextending relatively short'bar 155 and an videdi withza transversely extending bar 1,57

it Pivotallysecured betweenfearsl58is one end"v a open rectangular frame" member 159. 7 I ff Journaled in thejoppositeends of framefmemher l59yisafshaft-161awhich "at oneend has fixedithereto a measuring wheelr162- andat "thefoppositeendihas fixed thereto a gear163, f wheel 1'62 and gear 163being1 disposed Within is u pperendof bar155 and an intermediate'porating, rod 147 Qm'ajchine." Inforder toy:

tion of'bar'156 is a shaft 164 wenena of which is fixed ameasuringwheel 165-.in tier-1 i "tical alinement withwheel 162 and to the] a opposite end of; which is fixed a; gea'r 166 in .mesh with gear 163. Measuring wheels 1162 and 165are of like dimensions as are also gears 163 and 166 andfthesausage casing]: during operation isfed'between wheels- 162 and 165 being retained against"lateralmove flange 167 carriedwheel 165-and as whee1s'16'2 and 165paref 163 and 166 forfuni- 1 form rate of rotation thereiisnop ossibility of I 1 ment in one direction by a y connected through gears the sausage casing.

either measuring wh l Slipping a iyegto g The upperwheel 162 constantlyb u :1 V

the moving Casing inc iti'sicarried by the freeends of frame;l59lwhOse opp itg r a g Pivotally secured to lug 15 gsecfird p ase V I f L 154' and extending upwardly" therefrom j is" a bar 168 which supports a stop limiting-upward movement'of framej159 and an adjustablestop member 171 for limiting;

downwarc 'movement of framef159l Secured 5 to shaft 164 intermediatethe ends thereofiS' a duplex cam 17 2 adapted tobear against an anti-friction roller (not shown) carried by the a outer end-of an arm 173 pivotally connected toan' extension 174 carried by a projec- 6 tion 1750f base 154. Arm -173adjacentitsf pivotal connection is provided with'anexten- {a 1 sion17 6 to which the-end of bell crank actuis securedifl'rod 147 extending d 3 throughtubular-,memberi-l52; ilnterposed between arm 168 andt'he'upper end of arm 173 is a leaf spring 177- for yieldingly urging the rollercarried by arm 173 into engag v a rment'with duplex cam172 I 4: i i In the machine so far described the feed offi sausage meat into the casingxis controlledby 7 1 the single manually controlled valve 84 andi i themeat is constantly fed into the casing dure ing the linking'o'i twisting operations and this. I :is the preferableiformbf-iapparatus. vention is, however, readily adapted iorg the use ofan aut0matic{;val-ve ;to arrest the' flow V of meat during twisting'operations asshownig r -M' iin 1 10 anism comprises avalve 1-78fop'erable through a rockerarm 179which in" turnis operated; through a link181 (Figure 18) piv'otally car "j ried by an arm 1822rigidly carried'byfbar59f i that thetwistinga'nd feeding" operations are JV-Q harried 'out'alternatelyQ It has' been found machine meat'hasfa tendency to' press back and hold 1 the casingtoo tightfto-permit the freemovement "of the casing over Qth necessary for anieflicient in the end joffnozfzle 102 approximately one e nozzle: which" I ipenationfo'f the come this pres ing back tendency-z a -g plurality (preferably;

three) of relatively smallh'o'les 183 are drilled 1' v 130 during operation oftlielfizo i: that when 'themeatis fed into thei v casing which is crowded-over the nozzle the ward uniform movement of the casing and meat carried therein. This featureof my 1n- I vention is obviouslyapplicableto'the nozzles of other typesof linkers. J z r In the operation ofthe machine annlntestine or casingis crowded. over nozzle .102.

:This-is facilitated by the grooves 103 in the The motor 13 is then driven-and nozzle.

- handle 85 is manually actuated to operate vmeshes with valve 84 putting meat under pressure in the stutter-into commun cationewlth the nozzle 15..

102 permitting meat to be constantlyJfed under pressure into the casingcarried. by noz-: zle' 102. Thecasingin allforms ofl my 1nvention is guided by the hands of an operator in'its movement from nozzle 102. Motor 13 being operation impartsrotation to pinion 15 which through gear l'fiwith which it Vmeshesimparts rotation to. friction drum 17.

Pinion 18 carried by the shaft which carries gear 16 meshing with gear 19-which in turn gear 21'imparts; rotation to clutch disk 22; Thus 'frictioni'roller17 and disk 221 are. constantlyrotating while the sausage meat is being constantlyfed into the casing- I y 1 In the form of invention. shown inv Figure 1, at predetermined. intervals dash: pot con-- trol 132 is pneumatically operated and actuates bell crank lever 125 throwingsarm, 126' thereof out of engagement with trigger 39' whereupon the friction'between disks 22 and 4:5 isisufficient to move trigger '39 out; of: en.-

gagement with platform 47 upon; pivoting aboutits pivot 38 and; as a: consequenceroller 35 is advanced forward out-:ofse'ngagement with groove 28 andibrought into engagement; I

' lutlonlyof wheel-4133' producing two links of revolution.-' A- spring;

withconstantly rotating disk-22 "which care ries roller 35 as well' as; trigger v: 39: through one complete revolution atthe end of? which roller. 35 again. seats in; groove; 2-8": and trigger. 39 which has; beenrestoreds'to its origi' nal position against? stop 11 again engages platform-4:7, the impact of engagement being; piston 53 ,ands'chamber 54: as; well'as leaf spring 55. g V t e of: roller-x355 and;

cushioned; by

During the revolution trigger 39- earns 13, "and" 441i are brought into contact with the respective rollers 62 and; 632

which through yoke '61 imparts a rocking'mo tion to bar 59 which in'turnthroughzlink-fifi' and arm 65: rocks" frame 68 I bringing friction drum 74 intofrict'ional engagementzwith constantly rotating drum 17 imparting rota tion to drum 74. Drum in: turnadrives gear 7 3 which throughpinion 72; meshing with gear 93 impartssrapid? rotationtonozzle 102: as well as the casing carried thereby causing the casing-to twist'aclj a'cent the endi-of-nozzle 102 between the revolving andfil'led portions of the casing while the sausage meat is'-:being constantly fed into the" casing. About two and one half twistsin the casingis sufficient p and the t'wists are formed in such short/ im tervals of time that the constant feed of meat 7 repeated the twisting mechanism bein-g pe riodic'ally'set intooperation through dash-' pot control 132 while the meat is being constantly fed into nozzle 102 thus forminglinks;

is' put into position on nozzle 102-and the ho les183 to facilitate the, forward movement of'casing-from'nozzle 102.- e

In the forms of inventions wherein" the timing wheel control is employedthe filled casing; moves over the vanes 134 of wheel 133 which imparts rotation to duplex cam 1 11 75 The descrlb'ed operations are successlvely of sausage. :As onecasing is filled, another l which in. turn through engagement with V roller 144-2 impartsmovement to arm 1 16 of lever 1413. Arm146-throughrod= l iv'z moves' arm 127 of bell crank lever l25throwii1giarm- 1261 thereof out of engagementwith trigger 39/ whereupon roller 35 g ement with. revolving disk22 and nozzle; 102 is causedto. revolve as above setfortht Inthe use of measuring wheeh133 itwill be seen that, since the wheel must always be ro tated uniform distances beforeatable 6'8 is rocked through cam 1451'. and 'intervening parts, sausage linksof uniform length-will he produced;- As: roller 142 enga-ges two similar high points: 0111031111141 during each valu tionof wheel133= nozzle 102 will beset into revolving: operation twice during? each revo sausage: during each;

is brought; into en 7 131 tends-:torelease triggerj39from engage;

ment with platform 4E7 which is controlled by l cam 141 andassociatedfmechanisma r position'in front. of trigger 359 by meansof a against; the inclined' sulr-faceszofj 1 11 revolves roller 142 approach'es the'c'en te-r thereof allowing; lever 126 to; gradual l y "move to the trip; position; When ro'lilen142 rolls to position shown inFigure H, lever Bellcrankalever 125 isfetu'rnedtoth'elock" 126 haspassedfrom in frontofrtriggen 39 anditriggeri 39' slides oath inclined platform:

47? allowingvmacliine:totrip. 'When-o'amAA revolves: the: cam 44- on i ts outerface th'ro ws thetransverswend of lever outward thus lever 126 i 1rward toloc'k position in front o f trigger 39.

the spacing arrangement shownyimFig ure 20 the I sausage casing passes between sausage casing than in the form above de- I V scribed since the casing is held into firm en- 7 In theuse ofthe automatically operated gagement with wheels 162 and 165 V V idly 6 178, whereby-the feed of meat is regulated and permitted, tobe fed' into-the casing between thesuccessive twisting operations and-discontinued during, the twisting operationsth e valve is actuatedthrougharm 182 "link 181and' rocker arm '179vzto close valve 17,8-V-atthe time nozzle 102issetint-o revolv-' I Ling operation throughengagement of rollers a Should it' bedesir'ed iatythe beginning "of'an' operation or at any 62 mass with'flca'ms 43and' 4%. At the end of each successive twisting operation frame 68 uponrocking movement thereofto disengage ldrumsc- 17c and '74 valve 78 is again opened through connections 65,166; 64, '179,' 181" and'182 again permitting the feed of 'meattinto nozzle 7 102 and consequently the casing carried therebyf V to release trigger 39 other time rod. 119' is removed permitting shaft? 107 ''to be'frevolvedthrough the influ- ,encjeof spring '118grockinglever 125 about connection between arm 127 and rod 147 as a V From'.the foregoing ,dQSCIlP v ,seenthatfa sausage linking machine'is pro "vided whereby the twisting; mechanism is au- 7 I set into operation bymechanical: means at predetermined; intervals to produce I I sausage links of uniform 1 lengths and wherepivotal point to retract arm 126 from engagement with trigger 39 and thus'set the twisting? mechanism into operation. 7 v

' tion it will'be tomatically the linking. operation in the preferred embodimentof the inventionis carried out bodiments of my invention it is tolbeunder stood th'atimyinvention is not limited there- 't'o'izbutcomprises such changes and alterations'as will-be apparent to those skilled in a theart, or such as fairly fall within the scope i I ofthe appended claims. i

:fli A sausage linking mechanism comprising a rotatable nozzle adapted to receive a while the sausage meat is continuously and 'uninterruptedly fed int'othe sausage casings.

While I have disclosed certain specific em- Accordingly, what ,I desire to secure by Letters Patentland claim as new is sausage casing over thefree. end thereof and V throughwhichsausagemeat is constantly fed 2 i tion'driving elements for intermittently rotating said nozzle at a rate permitting the fromsaid stuffer; and means including fricconstant feed of the meat.

" 2. 'A sausage linking mechanism comprising a rotatablenozzle adapted to receive a sausage casing over the free end 'thereofand through which sausage'meat isconstantly fed under pressure into sai'dlcasing; a rotatable i element actuated by the filled casing; and means including; friction driving; element controlled by said rotatableelement forin termittently smoothly rotating said nozzlelat a rate permitting a constant feed of said meat.

3.1n1 a sausage linkingfmachine; a rotat I g V able tubular nozzle adaptedto receive a sau-.,

sage casing over the free end thereofand through which sausagemeat constantly i 7 fed underpressure; andrmeans for 'facilita'tgjj ing the nozzle upon the feeding movement of said casing from said of vmeat thereinto: comprising apertures through the: wall of said nozzle adj ac'ent, the thereof.

a sausage linking machine comprising a roc'asing over discharge end A. In combination with a sa g 'i i I tatable nozzle adapted to receive a sausage i the free end thereof;v means to control the flow of meat from said stulfer into" I said nozzle; meanstoj impart smooth inter- 7 mittent rotation to'sai'd nozzle mechanical means actuated bythe forinedsausage for controllingi'said nozzle rotatingmeans; and

means for smoothly startingand stopping 1 said last named means; 59A sausage linking mechanism adapted for detachable connection with a sausage stutter; comprising .a rotatable" nozzle adapted free end thereof and into which sausage. meat is fed under pressure from said stufier 'rotat able elements actuated by themovem'ent'of the filled V casing {means for inter-connecting said elements for simultaneousmovement; and mechanical means actuated by said rotat able element, for intermittently smoothly I; 7 starting rotating' andstopping said nozzle} -6. The construction set' 'forth in claim' 5 5 toreceive a sausagezca'sing over. the I in'whichsaid'nozzle rotating means com prises a constantly rotating drum; a'second no if "with said first. drum; driving" connections? between said second'drum and said nozzle; a v

rotatable 'druln normally out of engagement cam member controlled by said rotatableele ment and means actuated bysa'id cam" mem} her for moving said'drums into frictional contact. 7

driving engagementhaving a line driving o -7 A a sausage linking mechanism; adapted for'connection with a sausage stuffer comprlsmg a sausage casing over the free end thereof;--' meansto admit sausage 'meatfrom sa1d a rotatable nozzle adaptedtolreceive V stuffer into said nozzle and casingunder pressure; power generating means; a friction drum constantly rotated by said power gen crating means; a second rota-table friction 'drumno'rmally out of engagement with said first drum driving means operatively' assoi j 1 elated wlth sa1d nozzle and sa1d second drum; 1

trip means for throwing saiddrums into en-fl by the movement of the filled casing for set gagement; and means actuatedby movement'- of the filled casing for operating said trip means.

8. A sausage linking mechanism for de tachable connectlon to asausage stuifer comprising a sausagecasing supporting and filling means; means'for continuously. feeding sausage meat under. pressure through said supporting and filling means into said casing; and mechanical means controlled by the movement of the filled casing from. said supporting and filling meansfor periodically imparting rotation to said supporting and v filling means, and for smoothly startingand stopping the rotation thereof.

9. A sausage linkmg machine comprising 'a frame; a valve body supported by said zle and said-second drum; a rotatable roller engagingdisk supported by said frame and continuously rotatedby said motor; a'fixed roller engaging member supported by saidframe in cooperative relation to saidrotatable roller engaging disk; means for inter mittent engagement with said rotatable roller engaging disk and said fixed roller engaging member for rocking said rocking member for throwing said" second drum into engagement with sa d first .drum for imparting rotationto said nozzle; and means operable ting said'last'means into operation.

10. The construction set forth in claim 9 in which said meansfor rockingsaid rocking member comprises a member. provided with a roller a trigger and a plurality of cams; means for holding said member in frictional engagement with said rotatable disk; an inclined stop member against which said tri nger normally rests with said roller out of en gageme'nt with said rotatable disk; a member pivotally carried by said frame; rollers carried by saidlast member; a connection between said last member andsaid rocking member; a lever normally holding said trigger in engagement iwth said stop member;

said lever adapted to be actuated by said casing operated means for releasing said trigger whereupon said roller 'isadvanced between said rotatable disk and said fixed member for a complete revolution thereof; whereupon saidcamsengage said rollersimparting movement to said member pivotallv carried by said frame and drawing said second roller into engagement with said first roller.

11'. The construction set forth in claim 9' rotatable member actuated by the filled casg; m ns eng g ng the fi led casing to prevent slipping between said casing and rota-table member and elements operatively. con,-

necting said' member and means,

12. A sausage linking machine for connec tion with a sausage stufier comprising r'otat able sausage casing supporting and filling means; rotatable means engaged bytl e filled sausage casing; a rotatablecarn actuated by in which said last named means comprises said rotatable" means; and meanscontrolled by said cam for intermittently smoothly startine opp a ons aid rota able sausage casing support ng and fill ng means, 13. A sausage linking machine compr sing rotatable sausage casing supporting ing means; means for. yieldingly intermit- 'tently imparting rotation to said rotatable,

sausage casing supporting and filling means;

and means to smoothly stop and start said v last named means.

1%. A sausage linking machine comprising a sausage casing supporting and I filling means; means for intermittently; imparting 1 yieldln-g rotation to said first means; means for yieldingly stoppingsaid lastmeans'; and

means operable by the filled sausage casing forreleasing said stopping means.-

v15. The structure set forth in claim 14L in which said last means comprises a pair of spaced sausa e casing guide wheels; means inter-connectlng said guide wheels for si multaneous rotation; a cam operable by one of a v ls; n flexi le me s ac ua by saidcam for operating said stopping means. 1 Y

16. sausage linking machine adapted for connection with a sausage stufier comprising;

rotatable sausage casing supporting and filL ing means; means foryieldingly imparting rotation to said casing supporting and filling means and for yieldingly startingland stop:-

pingthe same; means for admitting sausage meat from sald stutter nto said casing supportlngand filllng means; and mechanical means controlling the yielding starting and stopping. oflsaid first named means.

' 171 A sausage'linking machinecomprising Ivul rotatable sausage casing supporting and filla ing means; alcontinuously rotating friction-i.

drum; a second rotatable friction drum nor:

mally. out of contact: with Saidfirst dru fl means operable by thefilled sausagecasing for intermittently throwing said second drum 7 into tangential .contactwi-th said first drum at intervals corresponding to uniform lengths of said filled casing for imparting yielding rotation to said'rotatable casing supporting of uniform lengths.

18. A sausage l1nk1ng machine comprising a frame; rotatable sausage caslng supporting and filling means supported by said and filling means for forming sausage-links I I name; normally inoperativei drivingmeans assoclated with said'caslng' supporting and ffilling means; continuously operated driving I means supported by said oframe; guiding and 'measuringmeans operable through Contact therewith of the filled sausage casing; and

' means-actuated by said'guiding and measur- 111g means forethro'wlngsaid normally 1noperableidriving means intofrictional oper- *ating engagement with said continuously op- V erated driving means for imparting yielding V rotation to said casingsupporting and filling 7 means at intervals corresponding to uniform T lengths of themoving filled'sausagecasing 15* formmg sausage llnksof unlform lengths.

from saidsupporting and filling meansfor l9. A sausage linkingom achine adapted for connection to a continuously operating sau tently inyielding tangential engagement for V 1 sage'stuffem comprising a rotatably mounted nozzlejarranged to receive the sausage meat from said stufler, and mechanism including" elements 7 arranged to be brought intermitrotating said nozzle at intervals at a'rate of speed sufficient to permit uninterrupted operation of the flow of meat from said stutter;

' 20. The combination defined in claim 19 including frictionally=- driven means controlled'by the linked sausage forcausing the engagement and disengagement of said elements at intervals determined by the length i I of the links.

' r to yieldingly rotate said nozzle at 1 intervals, 7 and means including elements; in yielding frictional driving engagement for-causing the starting andistop pmg of said mechanism.

7 22'. The 'combination defined. in claim 21 including elements operatedby the formed i links for controlling the operation of said 7 formation;

last named means inaccordance with the length "of said linksi and the rate of their 28. A sausage linking machine compris- "ing a rotatably mounted nozzle, mechanism.

torotate said nozzle comprising "a pair of f drums arranged to bebrought intermittently "in tangential'contactg' means to'yieldinglyp bring said-drums into contact ratigintervals and to yieldinglystop the mov'em'ent of; said means hereby'sausage'casings may be twisted'at intervals Without tearing caused" by V abrupt operation of said means and mecha- 24. The c'ombination 'defined in claim including elements moved by the linked sausage to smoothly control the intervals of 1553" operation of said last named means.

V In testimony whereof I affix my signatureT WALTER O. JOHNSON. 

